Context-less Short Message Transmission for MTC Networks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current mobile communication networks, particularly those based on LTE architecture, are inefficient for Machine-Type Communication (MTC) terminals due to excessive signaling and context maintenance requirements, which are not well-suited for low-mobility, infrequent, and small-data transmission scenarios.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a mobile communications network with mobility managers and base stations that allow for temporary context setups for transmitting user data without establishing full RRC and NAS connections, reducing signaling and context maintenance for MTC terminals by transmitting data in a context-less or quasi-context-less manner.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If full RRC and NAS connections are established for MTC data transmission, then reliable data communication is ensured, but signaling overhead and network complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the unnecessary full connection establishment process for MTC devices. Instead of requiring complete RRC and NAS connection setups, the system allows MTC devices to transmit small data packets using only basic identification information, extracting only the essential signaling elements needed for minimal data transmission while eliminating redundant connection procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs temporary, disposable context structures for MTC data transmission. Rather than maintaining persistent connection contexts, the system creates lightweight, temporary transmission contexts that are discarded after use, reducing the need for long-term context maintenance and associated signaling overhead while enabling reliable data delivery for the duration of the transmission.
2Reliability
If full connection contexts are maintained for MTC terminals, then service quality is improved, but network resource consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential elements needed for MTC service delivery, removing the requirement for full connection contexts. The system maintains minimal identification and routing information necessary for service quality while eliminating energy-consuming context maintenance processes associated with complete RRC and NAS connections.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses temporary, disposable transmission contexts that consume minimal network resources. These short-lived contexts are created only when needed for data transmission and are immediately discarded afterward, avoiding the continuous resource consumption associated with maintaining persistent connection contexts for infrequent MTC transmissions.
3Adaptability or versatility
If traditional LTE signaling procedures are used for MTC, then comprehensive service control is achieved, but transmission efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes unnecessary signaling procedures from traditional LTE protocols for MTC applications. By eliminating redundant service control steps that are not needed for simple data transmission, the system achieves faster transmission efficiency while retaining essential service control capabilities through streamlined signaling paths.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the traditional monolithic connection establishment process into separate, independent stages. MTC devices can perform basic identification and data transmission without completing the full connection setup sequence, allowing critical data transmission functions to proceed independently of non-essential service control procedures.
Data Source
AI summary
A mobile communications network communicating data to/from communications devices, the network including base stations operable to provide a wireless access interface to communications devices; communications devices operable to communicate packets with the base stations via the wireless access interface; packet gateways operable to transmit user data packets received via the base stations from/to the communications devices; and mobility managers operable to send/receive signalling packets for controlling user data communications between communications devices and packet gateways. The mobility managers can, upon receiving a signalling packet from a communications device and including user data intended for a destination, detect the packet is not associated with any established signalling connection between the mobility managers and the communication device. The mobility managers can, responsive to the detection, transmit the user data in the signalling packet to the destination. Accordingly a short message may be sent in a reduced context or context-less manner.